The Pelican St. Pete – the beautiful boat cruise service operating from St. Pete Pier – has officially launched service to Tampa Bay’s Pine Key (AKA: Beer Can Island). It’s the first publicly available service to the privately-owned (and hugely popular) island, a boon for St. Pete locals and tourists alike. With this new service, island escapes are closer than ever – just a breezy, scenic ride away.
The scenic excursion launches daily at 10 am, offering a three-hour trip for island fun and smooth cruising on Tampa Bay’s pristine blue waters. The 45-minute ride aboard The Pelican’s beautiful 60-foot catamaran is worth it on its own, to be honest. But the star of the day is the hour and a half spent on nine-acre Pine Key relaxing in the sun, playing in the water, or kicking back with a cold beer.
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Tickets are $59 for adults and $39 for children 12 and under. Only 49 spots are available on board the comfy catamaran, so we recommend booking your spot as soon as you have the crew lined up. Perfect for adults and families alike, the Pine Key trip sells out quickly, so we recommend securing your spots soon.
Pine Key is a natural wonderland in Tampa Bay
Affectionately called Beer Can Island by locals, Pine Key is a natural wonderland offering escapist delights for locals and tourists alike. Plus, with plenty of beer and wine available onboard The Pelican, you can easily take your drinks onto the island with you (thanks to Pine Key being privately owned). Previously, the only way to get to this secluded oasis was if you had your own boat. Thanks to The Pelican, now all you have to do is make it to the St. Pete Pier in time for launch.
Once you make it to Pine Key, the idyllic island is your oyster, where you can bring a picnic, walk through nature, set up shop in the sand, or swim in the warm, blue waters of Tampa Bay. As you float around, keep an eye out for the local dolphins and manatees swimming by.
And don’t worry: if The Pelican is fully booked or unavailable the day you prefer, you can always rent their six-person pontoon (complete with a private captain!) to take you out to Pine Key.
The Pelican journeys from St. Pete Pier every day
The Pelican, promising “pier to paradise” transportation, is a sleek passenger ship offering gorgeous views through Tampa Bay and into the Gulf of Mexico every day.
Riders have their choice of multiple types of excursions, either sailing to Pine Key during the day, taking a two-hour sunset cruise in the evening, enjoying a four-hour adventure to the newly-reopened Egmont Key, or a chartered six-person pontoon boat, complete with a captain. Dates are now open for booking as soon as this weekend for all four.
The 60-foot catamaran holds up to 49 passengers, complete with air conditioning and generously sized bathrooms, and is also available for special private charter events like weddings, corporate parties, reunions, and birthdays.
On the Sunset Cruise, guests are invited to sit back, relax, and enjoy themselves during the two-hour journey from St. Pete Pier through paradise. Sail by the beautiful shorelines of St. Pete, pass under the stunning Sunshine Skyway bridge, and perhaps even see a dolphin or two. Prices for the 18+ excursions are $59 per person. Cruise times will adjust throughout the year as necessary.
The return of the Egmont Key trips, taking place every Saturday and alternating weekdays, is a huge boon for locals. Now that the lovely island is back open, the four-hour excursion sails under the Skyway Bridge and includes two hours of fun exploring the island, snorkeling, walking through the old fort, or just wading in the blue waters.
Pontoon rentals available
The pontoon rentals offer full flexibility for whatever type of day (or night) you want to have. The journey includes a captain so everyone can enjoy themselves, and all charters are bring-your-own food and beverage.
And, of course, one of our favorite parts of any journey aboard The Pelican: the beautiful catamaran partners with Tegan Foster (the founder and former owner of Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe) to provide a curated and delightful bar selection featuring some of the best beers and wines from across the country and the globe.
Learn more and book your excursion here.
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